Chapter 33: Phoenix Tail Flower (III)

It was already night time, and the clear moonlight shone through the window and onto Xie Changzhou’s handsome face. His glassy eyes were filled with tenderness.

Sui Ning clenched her hand tightly on her dress, her gaze falling on his brows, nose, and thin lips, and then down to his jade-white, slender neck.

His prominent Adam’s apple rolled up and down under her gaze, and a wave of heat rushed to her cheeks.

“Sui Ning.”

Xie Changzhou’s clear voice was now slightly hoarse, and the emotions in his warm eyes were difficult for Sui Ning to understand.

Outside the house, Ah Yan’s low sobbing echoed in the quiet night, while the two inside the room silently gazed at each other under the moonlight. The crystal-clear spiritual energy echoed around their bodies, and the scent of pine resin wafted into their nostrils, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.

Sui Ning could hear her own rapid heartbeat, as if it wanted to burst out of her chest. A warm current flowed through her heart, filled with soft and tender feelings.

“Jianzun…” Sui Ning spoke hesitantly, her voice low and weak, as if she had just recovered from a serious injury.

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Sui Ning quickly looked up. Her black eyes curled with delight. “Great, Jianzun! With the Phoenix Tail Flower, we only need to wait for the Cangwu Mountain enchantment to open in six months, and then we can go find the Reviving Branch, and your poison can be cured.”

She smiled with joy, two dimples appearing on her cheeks, and her clear and translucent eyes were full of smiles.

Xie Changzhou seemed to be infected by her emotions. He smiled with a hint of humor, and a soft light shone in his shallow pupils. His eyebrows relaxed, and his gentle face was full of tenderness.

His voice was very soft and gentle as he slowly said, “With Ningning’s help, my poison will surely be cured.”

Originally an extremely flattering sentence, it was especially sincere when spoken by Xie Changzhou. His expression was gentle, and his gaze when looking at people was particularly focused, yet it did not make people feel offended but rather made them feel valued by this high and mighty sword saint.

“When do we leave, Jianzun?” Sui Ning’s smile grew wider.

The silver moonlight shone through the window, illuminating Xie Changzhou’s body. He laughed lightly in the light, saying, “In a few days, after you’ve recovered.”

Sui Ning then remembered that she had already experienced the tribulation. She tried to feel the spiritual energy in her body, and it was like an ocean in her dantian, and pure and majestic spiritual energy filled every inch of her meridians.

She was already a nascent soul stage cultivator!

A strong sense of achievement surged in Sui Ning’s heart. Although her cultivation of the golden core was bestowed upon her by the system, she had achieved the level of a nascent soul through her own efforts in just over half a year. Compared to others who spent decades or even hundreds of years to achieve the same level, she was truly a genius.

Sui Ning proudly boasted, “System, am I not more talented than Xie Changzhou? He took five years to achieve what I did in just over six months.”

If this trend continued, would she not become a great cultivation master in less than ten years?

The system coldly shattered her illusion: ” [No, your rapid progress is all thanks to the Soul Seal Plate and Xie Changzhou’s Spiritual Pearl.] “

Sui Ning asked in confusion, “What are you talking about?”

The system explained, ” [The Soul Seal Plate is an ancient artifact that was personally obtained by the Emperor Linglang in the Kunlun Realm. It is now your main life-saving artifact and is nurturing your meridians. The Spiritual Pearl was personally refined by Xie Changzhou using one-fifth of his own cultivation. It also has many benefits when worn daily. ]”

” [So, host, you were really lucky to become a nascent soul stage cultivator within half a year. ]”

Sui Ning felt a little sad, but the system encouraged her to focus on her cultivation and strive to become a great cultivation master.

Sui Ning clenched her fists and shouted at the system, “I did it!”

A light laugh came, and Sui Ning looked up in surprise. Xie Changzhou was there with a smile on his face.

He congratulated her: “Congratulations, Ningning, on becoming a nascent soul stage cultivator.”

Sui Ning quickly let go of the hand she was holding and showed a trace of embarrassment on her face. “I have to thank the Jianzun’s spiritual pearl. Without it, I would have been struck by lightning and died.”

Xie Changzhou’s mouth still carried a soft smile as he fell silent for a moment and said softly, “Ningning was injured while helping me find the spirit herbs. It’s what I should do.”

After he finished speaking, he stood up and looked down at Sui Ning, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed. “Ningning’s injuries are not serious. Rest for now, and I’ll take Ah Yan back first.”

“Okay, thank you, Jianzun.”

Xie Changzhou nodded slightly and turned to walk out the door, his large robe fluttering.

As soon as he opened the door, Ah Yan, who had been waiting anxiously outside, hugged his leg and cried, “Woo, Master, how’s Sui Ning doing…”

Ah Yan’s eyes were red from crying, and there were dry tears on his white and tender face. He hugged Xie Changzhou’s leg and cried pitifully.

Xie Changzhou was helpless and leaned down to pick him up, saying softly, “Ningning is fine. She just needs to rest now. We’ll come back to see her tomorrow.”

Axi buried his small head in Xie Changzhou’s neck and nodded, still sobbing.

Xie Changzhou’s gaze lowered, his long eyelashes covering the emotions in his eyes. The warmth on his face disappeared, replaced by a hint of coldness in the moonlight.

Sui Ning was just a Nascent Soul cultivator; how could she have provoked a thunder tribulation comparable to a Mahayana cultivator’s? That last tribulation seemed to carry great anger, as if it wanted to strike her directly and kill her.

What had she done to anger the heavens?

He was sure that she wasn’t intentionally hiding her strength; she truly had a golden core cultivation level.

There was only one possibility: her cultivation was fake; in other words, it wasn’t cultivated by herself.

Therefore, she had angered the will of heaven. Not only was the tribulation more dangerous, but even the will of heaven wanted her to die directly in the tribulation.

There were really too many mysteries in Sui Ning’s body.

But he wanted to believe her. He had never been wrong about people for so many years, so he trusted his own judgment.

And he trusted his heart.

***

Half a month passed unconsciously, and Sui Ning’s injuries had long since healed.

The sense of the Soul Seal Plate was sometimes present and sometimes absent. She almost guarded the Soul Seal Plate every day, afraid that the aura of the Phoenix Tail Flower would suddenly disappear one day.

After the aura of the Phoenix Tail Flower appeared and disappeared again, Sui Ning couldn’t bear it anymore.

She went straight to find Xie Changzhou. Just as she entered the courtyard, a white, unknown object rushed towards her.

Helplessly, Sui Ning caught it, and Ah Yan affectionately rubbed against her face.

In the past, Sui Ning would have been very happy to hug Ah Yan and play around, but now she had more important things to do.

She gently stroked Ah Yan’s soft white fur and whispered to it, “Ah Yan, come down first; I have something to talk to Jianzun about.”

“Awoo.” Ah Yan whimpered softly and obediently jumped down from her body.

Seated beside the stone table, Xie Changzhou looked up at her with clear eyes full of indifference.

Sui Ning quickly took out the Soul Seal Plate and placed it on the table, handing it to him. “Jianzun, the aura of the Phoenix Tail Flower disappeared again just now. The last time it appeared was in the northwest direction, not too far from here.”

At this point, she paused for a moment and looked up at Xie Changzhou, who was quiet and unresponsive to her words.

“So, when are we going?” Sui Ning asked.

Xie Changzhou took a sip of tea and calmly replied, “Wait, Ningning—”

But before he could finish his sentence, Sui Ning interrupted him. “Stop! Jianzun, my injuries have long since healed. Can’t you see that I’m fine now?”

She stood up and twirled in front of Xie Changzhou, her clothes fluttering and her delicate fragrance wafting in the wind with her movements.

Xie Changzhou’s nose was full of her sweet scent, and his fingers holding the teacup trembled.

He was a little dazed and hadn’t had a chance to respond to Sui Ning’s words when she sat back down next to him, getting closer. Her black eyes stared straight at him.

“Jianzun, I’m really okay now. We can go look for the Phoenix Tail Flower. The aura of the flower is getting weaker and weaker, and I’m afraid that the Soul Seal Plate won’t be able to sense it if we wait any longer.”

She was too close to him—so close that Xie Changzhou could see the fine fuzz on her fair face and smell her fragrance. His throat felt inexplicably dry, and it moved.

“Jianzun, are you listening to me?” Sui Ning looked at him hesitantly, her beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Xie Changzhou quickly regained his senses and said, “Yes, I am listening; sorry, Ningning.”

He put down the teacup and looked at the Soul Seal Plate on the table. The aura of the phoenix tail flower on it was gradually dissipating.

Xie Changzhou said softly, “Since Ningning’s body is better, we’ll leave tomorrow after I handle the matters in the sect.”

Sui Ning’s eyes lit up with joy and clarity as she said, “Okay, we’ll leave when Jianzun has finished handling things and find the spirit herb to cure Jianzun’s cold poison as soon as possible.”

A smile spread across her delicate and petite face, and her eyes curled like a crescent moon, radiating a clear light.

Xie Changzhou’s heart suddenly softened, and he couldn’t help but smile as well. Sui Ning seemed to care about his cold poison, and she was showing concern for him.

As this thought crossed his mind, his heart throbbed with a familiar sensation that made his chest itch.

Sui Ning smiled slightly, got the answer she wanted, and didn’t stay any longer. She picked up the Soul Seal Plate and bid farewell to Xie Changzhou.

“Jianzun, I’m going back to pack up.”

“Okay, take care, Ningning.”

Sui Ning reached out and rubbed Ah Yan, who was crouching obediently. She picked it up and gave it a big kiss. Ah Yan responded eagerly, licking her face with its pink tongue and leaving drool all over her face.

Her face was a little sore from the spines on its tongue, so she quickly pressed down on Ah Yan, laughing and responding, “Ah Yan, Ah Yan, that’s enough. We’ll see each other again tomorrow.”

Sui Ning put Ah Yan down, waved goodbye to it, and turned to leave.

Ah Yan sat obediently, watching her depart. It eagerly turned its head, ready to dash towards its master. However, upon meeting its master’s gaze, its short claws came to an abrupt halt.

Its master’s face remained serene, with eyes that betrayed no emotion, even when delicately sipping from a teacup.

Yet, it was precisely because of this serenity, so tranquil, that it triggered a familiar anticipation in Ah Yan. Every time it played mischievously and neglected its training, its master would wear this expression when angry.

And then, its master would punish it by forbidding access to the back of the mountain for a month, requiring it to quietly remain in the courtyard for cultivation.

Ah Yan’s soft white fur instantly bristled, and its sturdy little paws, about to make a sneaky move, froze in place.

“Ah Yan.”

It was a familiar prelude.

Ah Yan sat back dejectedly. Although it didn’t know what mistake it had made, the tone in which its master called it indicated anger. Now it was time for another punishment.

As Xie Changzhou saw the drooping and forlorn appearance of Ah Yan, he couldn’t help but feel like laughing. He let out a gentle sigh and spoke in a soft voice, “Ah Yan, you’ve taken on a human form as a male, while Sui Ning is a female. You mustn’t be overly affectionate with her anymore.”

Ah Yan let out a low howl, its face filled with confusion. “Why can’t I be affectionate with Sui Ning just because I’m male?”

Xie Changzhou paused, suddenly realizing that he had never taught Ah Yan these common courtesies. He had lived alone for so long, never considering the idea of marriage, so he hadn’t taken such things into account and had overlooked the fact that Ah Yan was a divine beast that might one day marry as well.

Xie Changzhou spoke softly: “There is a distinction between genders. Men should respect and maintain proper decorum with women. Kissing and hugging are intimate actions, reserved only for one’s parents and married couples.”

Ah Yan nodded with a half-understood expression, its eyes downcast and tangled. But wait, it and Sui Ning weren’t parent and child, right?

Then, as if it had thought of something, its round eyes suddenly lit up. “So, I can marry Sui Ning, and we’ll be a couple. Then I can kiss and hug her!”

Xie Changzhou was taken aback, but soon a faint blush appeared on his face, and he scolded, “Absurd, how can you two get married!”

His voice was raised, and his thin lips were tightly pressed together. Even the air pressure around him lowered significantly, and Ah Yan was immediately frightened and stunned.

It shrank its front paws and said in a low voice, “But I really like her; why can’t I marry her?”

Xie Changzhou’s gentle face rarely showed a hint of surprise. Ah Yan didn’t understand what it meant to like someone and mistook being close to Sui Ning for liking her. But Xie Changzhou didn’t know how to explain to it what it meant to like someone as a husband and wife.

For a moment, Xie Changzhou didn’t know how to answer. Ah Yan sat squatting next to him, looking aggrieved.

Xie Changzhou felt a little helpless, so he leaned down and picked it up and whispered, “Ah Yan, do you understand what true liking means?”

Ah Yan’s big, round eyes looked at him, full of confusion.

Xie Changzhou rubbed its head and said slowly, “If you want to marry a woman, you have to love her. You have to protect her, respect her, and only marry her. You have to have children with her and raise them together. You cannot be indecisive or have a wandering heart.”

“Do you have this kind of feeling for Sui Ning? If no, then is it just an ordinary liking, such as liking her cooking, playing with her, or liking that she doesn’t discipline you like I do, or is it something more?”

He paused for a moment and said word by word, “Do you love everything about her, want to live with her day and night, eat and sleep together, have children and raise them together, and never be separated for life?”

Ah Yan lowered its head and pondered carefully.

After a while, Ah Yan finally understood its own feelings. It raised its little head proudly and said to Xie Changzhou, “I understand now, master. I just like Sui Ning as a friend; I don’t have any romantic feelings for her, so I can’t marry her!”

Xie Changzhou smiled lightly and playfully touched its little nose, saying, “Yes, Ah Yan is smart.”

Ah Yan smiled and squinted, with a childish voice mixed with curiosity. “Then what kind of feelings does the master have for Sui Ning? The master has also held Sui Ning before.”

Xie Changzhou’s hand, which was stroking Ah Yan’s head, stopped suddenly. His ears turned red in an instant, and a hint of obscurity flashed in his cold eyes.

What kind of feelings did he have for Sui Ning?

Ah Yan looked at Xie Changzhou curiously, but he didn’t answer. As time passed, it simply curled up on his lap.

The low and cold fragrance unique to Xie Changzhou penetrated into its nostrils, carrying his warm and pure spiritual energy. Ah Yan closed its eyes and enjoyed it, and soon it became a little drowsy.

At the moment when its consciousness was about to leave its body, it heard a clear sigh, followed by a whisper.

Ah Yan raised its head somewhat confusedly and asked, “Master, what did you just say?”

Xie Changzhou shook his head and gently rubbed Ah Yan’s head, soothing it in a low voice: “Go to sleep, it’s nothing.”

His brows furrowed, and the emotions at the bottom of his eyes were hidden behind his long and dark eyelashes. His slender and jade-like hands stroked Ah Yan’s furry little body one after another.

Ah Yan asked him what kind of feelings he had for Sui Ning, but he and Ah Yan were different.

He was very clear about his own feelings, and his answer had always been clear.

He wants to have children with her, to raise them together, and to love and protect her for their entire lives, never leaving each other’s side.

She alone is enough for him; no one else could make him feel this way.

He doesn’t want to live alone at the top of Wenjian Peak as the aloof and high-and-mighty White Jade Sword Saint. He loves this world, and he loves only her.

Xie Changzhou would die for the people, but he also wants to live for Sui Ning.

However, he doesn’t know Sui Ning’s feelings at the moment.

A snoozing Ah Yan nestles on Xie Changzhou’s knee. He looks at the peaceful expression on its face, and his heart softens.

He also wants to start a family, but his master never taught him how to pursue a woman. If he bluntly said to Sui Ning, “I like you,” would she be scared off? Or should he approach her gently, step by step?

After all, Sui Ning is a woman with a thin face. He should consider her feelings carefully.

Xie Changzhou lowers his gaze and looks closely at Ah Yan on his knee.

He and Sui Ning have a long future ahead.

On the afternoon of the second day, when Sui Ning rushed to the peak, Xie Changzhou was waiting there as usual.

Ah Yan transformed into a human form, wearing a blue robe and using a spell to change his white hair into black hair, tied up in a bun, with a small round face that looked particularly cute, not much different from an ordinary child.

Xie Changzhou turned to look at Sui Ning and was slightly stunned.

Today, Sui Ning was actually wearing a pink outfit.

All of her previous clothes, without exception, were all blue, just like his white clothes, with various styles but a uniform color. But today, she was wearing a pink outfit that made her look especially charming, and his heart skipped a beat.

Sui Ning walked up to try to pick up Ah Yan while laughing, but Ah Yan dodged his little body and avoided her directly.

Ah Yan puffed up his small face and pretended to be fierce, saying, “Sui Ning, the master said that there is a difference between men and women. Don’t hold me or kiss me from now on!”

Sui Ning: “?”

You’re still a child!

She looked at Xie Changzhou in disbelief, who had an open and innocent expression.

Sui Ning was speechless and choked up. Indeed, staying with Xie Changzhou for too long would make even the most lively person turn into an old cadre.

Feeling deprived of the tiger-petting benefit, Sui Ning gave Xie Changzhou a fierce glare and left without even looking back.

Xie Changzhou’s hands behind his back curled up slightly, his warm expression a little helpless.

Was Sui Ning angry with him for interfering, judging by the look she gave him earlier?

He looked helplessly at Ah Yan, who had a proud expression in his eyes that clearly meant “Praise me, praise me! I just rejected Sui Ning.”

Xie Changzhou sighed in his heart, thinking of the look that Sui Ning had just given him, which made him feel a little flustered for no reason.

He seemed to have really done something wrong with good intentions. After all, Ah Yan was still a child, so why bother to discipline him so much?

He had also become a little selfish, pretending to avoid suspicion even though he was really bothered in his heart, which made Sui Ning unhappy.

Sui Ning’s figure had already gone far away. Xie Changzhou looked at her disappearing back and sighed softly. He took Ah Yan’s hand and followed after her.

The direction that the Soul Seal Plate was pointing to was Yong’an City, which was under the jurisdiction of the Changming Sword Sect and quite far from the Limitless Sword Sect.

Sui Ning took out the Soul Seal Plate, and a faint glow suddenly flashed when they approached Yong’an City, and the pointer pointed directly to the city.

“It’s in the city,” she said.

Xie Changzhou nodded slightly and said softly, “Thank you, Ningning.”

The two of them and the tiger walked into the city on foot. Unlike the previously visited Nanjing City, Yong’an City was prosperous in commerce, and the streets were crowded with people, showing that the people were living in peace and happiness.

But for some reason, Sui Ning always felt that something was wrong.

Ever since they entered the city, many people had been staring at them and watching them all the way.

Sui Ning looked at Xie Changzhou beside her. He held Ah Yan’s hand and looked calm and gentle, as if he hadn’t noticed anything wrong.

“Jianzun?” Sui Ning sent him a message.

A familiar voice with a hint of coldness sounded in her mind: “Ningning, don’t speak; keep walking.”

Sui Ning felt relieved hearing this, since Xie Changzhou must have noticed something was wrong.

The people in this Yong’an city were a bit strange.

The Soul Seal Plate only pointed in a general direction nearby in the city but didn’t indicate an exact location, so Sui Ning couldn’t pinpoint where it was.

It was already dark, and Sui Ning was about to find an inn to stay at for the night when a heavy drum sound echoed through the street.

The vendors quickly closed their stalls, the shops on both sides hurriedly shut their doors, and even the people who were still outside hastily walked away.

Soon, there were only three of them left on the street.

Sui Ning was surprised: “It’s only the third watch; why did they close so early?”

Xie Changzhou shook his head, his face becoming serious and his clear voice becoming low: “There is an evil presence in Yong’an City, although it’s weak and has probably left by now.”

“So, does that mean an evil entity came to Yong’an City?” Sui Ning asked.

Xie Changzhou nodded: “Yes, but it has already left.”

Sui Ning was about to let out a sigh of relief, but Xie Changzhou’s next words made her heart leap to her throat.

“However, there is a much stronger force in Yong’an City, and even I’m not sure if I can come out unscathed.”

Sui Ning’s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at him.

Xie Changzhou said, “Even I cannot guarantee a safe retreat?”

But Xie Changzhou was the foremost figure of his time, the strongest among the four great experts who had crossed the tribulation, and the hope of the entire cultivation world.

Yet, in a city like Yong’an, how could such a formidable power emerge that even he wasn’t confident handling?

Xie Changzhou’s brows and eyes turned cold, his long, black lashes drooping, concealing the emotions in his eyes.

Du Wang’s sword energy overflowed, and patches of frost condensed on the sword body.